Folding table



'June 17, 1930. W Q RASTETTER 1,763,671

FOLDING TABLE Filed May 27. 192'? INVENTOR 9% ATTORNEY Patented June417, 193,o

g UNITED LSTA-TES WILLIAM c. EASTETTER, or rom' WAYNE, INDIANA FOLDINGTABLE Application led Hay27, 1927. Serial No. 194,691.

This invention relates to improvements in folding tables of that typeusually employed for card games, and especially where'a large number oftables are required at a single gathering of participants, when it isdesir.- able to place many tables in position for use and subsequentlydispose of them expeditiously. "The object of the improvement is toprovide a tableA of itsl class so constructed as to be of light Weight,of great strength and rigid when extended for use. This object isaccomplishedby the construction Illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in Which:

Fig.' 1 is a bottom plan view of a table 1n folded position andembodying the invention Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 1 on theline 2- thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 1 on the line 3- thereof; v

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the latch end of one of the leg braces andits guard;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a bracket for supporting the legbrace; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the anchors by which the legs aresecured to the tabletop.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in thedrawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a table top 1 having a marginal frame 2 withrounded corners 3, in each of which corners is secured an anchor 4consisting of an arched plate 5 shaped'so as to have .a pair of spacedlugs 6. In each anchor plate 4 is secured one of the table legs 78, theupper end of each leg being bifurcated and positioned between the lugs 6of the corresponding anchor upon a pivot 9 therein. The anchors in whichthe legs 7 are hinged, are positioned so that the pivots 9 thereinextend in a plane higher 55 in the frame than that plane in which thepivots of the other anchors for vthe legs 8 lie.

Thus, when the legs 7 are folded, they will fold against the bottom lofthe table top 1 in a common plane ad] acent each other, While 50 thelegs 8 when folded will overlap the thereto folded le s 7 in a parallelplane adjacent cleat 10 has pivoted relation with the tabletop at the'center thereof at a point between each pair of legs and has securingengagement with the overlapping legs 8 65 whereby the legs are held infolded position beneath the table top.

Each leg has attached to one side thereof at a point spaced from itshinged end a guard 11 secured by a pivot 12 upon which d0 the .guard hasturning movement, and a leg brace -13 has sliding movement in thecorresponding guard 11. Each brace 13 has hinged connection at one ofits ends on a corresponding bracket 14-14, there being a 65 pivot 15connecting the bracket and brace. Each bracket has a spring tongue 16against. which'the corresponding brace 13 bears upon reaching itsextended position so that outwardmovement of the brace is resistedthereby. Each brace 13 has a notch 17 made therein at a point adjacentthe end thereof opposite its hinged end disposed so as to 4recelve thecorresponding ivot 12 whereby the brace has latched re ation with saidplvot. Also, the brace has a lug 18 that projects from its edge at apointbetween ,the notch and the adjacent end ofthe brace that hasengagement with the pivoty so as to prevent removal of the brace fromthe guard 11, there being sufficient play for the brace between thepivot and the guard to admit of unlatching the brace from the pivot, butinsuliicient play to admit the lug to pass the pivot.

The brackets Y141 are secured directly upon the bottom face of the tabletop 1 so that their pivots 15 arepositioned in a common plane withthepivots 9 for the legs 7, whereby the corresponding braces 13, whenfolded, 90 lie in a common plane with the legs 7. A block 19 isinterposed between each bracket 14; and the bottom of the table top 1 sothat the pivots 15 in the brackets 14 are disposed in a planecommon'with that of the 95 pivots 9 for the legs 8, whereby thecorresponding braces 13, when folded, lie in a common plane with thelegs 8.

The braces 13 are positioned Auniformly relative to the respective legsso that in 10 l handling unfolding and folding the le s, confusion inthe folding parts 1s obviated.

In utllizin the invention the cleat 10 is turned out o engagement withthe legs, and

' the legs 8 are turned upon their pivots 9 to their erect position sothat their braces 13 have latched engagement with the corresponding pins12; the legs are then unfolded in like manner and sustained in erectposition by the latched engagement with their braces. Each brace issustained in latched engagement with the corresponding pivot 12 bypressure of the spring tongue 16 bearing thereupon. In folding the legs,the corresponding brace is raised by the operator out of engagement withthe pin on the corresponding leg, permitting the leg to be folded as thebrace slides in its guard into parallel relationship with said leg.

What I claim is In a table structure having folding legs, a guardpivoted to each leg, brackets fixed to the underside of the top, a legbrace pivoted to each bracket and having a sliding connection with saidpivoted guard, locking means carried by said guard, a spring tonguecarried by each bracket and adapted to engage said brace and press saidbrace into engagement with said locking means when the leg is extendedfor use.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM C. RASTETTER.

